# Helium Browser for Android
[](https://github.com/jqssun/android-helium-browser/releases)
[](https://github.com/jqssun/android-helium-browser/blob/main/LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/jqssun/android-helium-browser/actions/workflows/build.yml)
[](https://github.com/jqssun/android-helium-browser/releases)
A fully open-source experimental Chromium-based web browser for Android with extensions support, based on
- [Vanadium](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Vanadium) by [GrapheneOS](https://github.com/GrapheneOS)
- [Helium](https://github.com/imputnet/helium) by [imput](https://github.com/imputnet) (future patches pending GPLv2 compatibility)
## Usage
### Installing Extensions
Navigate to [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/), enable **Desktop site** by selecting the menu button ⋮ in the top right corner and ensure the option is checked. Select **Okay** and proceed as normal if prompted with:
> The Chrome Web Store is only available on desktop.
Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions are supported. You can install [uBlock Origin from Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm).
Once you select **Add to Chrome**, [the extension will be installed in the background](https://support.google.com/chrome_webstore/answer/2664769) until the button changes to **Remove from Chrome**.
### Using Extensions
To use [an extension's popup](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/extensions/develop/ui/add-popup), open extensions menu, select the menu button ⋮ next to the extension, and choose **Pin to toolbar** from the list. You can then open the popup using the extension's dedicated toolbar icon.
To run an extension in Incognito (OTR) mode, go to **Manage extensions**, find the extension you want to use in Incognito mode, select **Details**, and turn on **Allow in Incognito**.
### Debug URLs
To view and access the debug URLs, use [`chrome://chrome-urls`](chrome://chrome-urls). For **Experiments**, use [`chrome://flags`](chrome://flags).
### WebRTC IP Policy
Consistent with both Helium and Vanadium, the option is available by selecting the menu button ⋮ in the top right corner, then **Settings**, **Privacy and security**, then under **Privacy**, **WebRTC IP handling policy**. If you experience issues with WebRTC due to the IPs being shielded by default (e.g. [Discord Voice](https://discord.com/blog/how-discord-handles-two-and-half-million-concurrent-voice-users-using-webrtc)), you may try to change it to **Default public interface only**, or **Default**.
## Implementation
> [!WARNING]
> All builds are experimental, so unexpected issues may occur. [Helium Browser for Android](#helium-browser-for-android) only attempts to improve security and privacy where possible. For better protection on Android, you should instead use [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org) with [Vanadium](https://vanadium.app), which additionally integrates patches into Android System WebView and provides significant kernel and memory management hardening on the OS level.
```mermaid
---
config:
layout: dagre
---
flowchart TD
subgraph s1["Helium"]
n5["Generic Patches
patches/series"]
n6["Name Substitution
utils/name_substitution.py"]
n7["Version Patch
{*version,revision}.txt"]
n8["Resource Patch
resources/*resources.txt"]
end
subgraph s2["Vanadium"]
n9["Generic Patches
patches/*.patch"]
end
subgraph s3["Helium Browser for Android"]
n11["GN Build Configuration
args.gn"]
n12["Signed Release"]
end
n1["Chromium"] --> s1 & s2
n5 --> n6
n6 --> n7
n7 --> n8
s1 --> s3
s2 --> s3
n11 --> n12
n5@{ shape: subproc}
n6@{ shape: subproc}
n7@{ shape: subproc}
n8@{ shape: subproc}
n9@{ shape: subproc}
n11@{ shape: subproc}
n12@{ shape: subproc}
n1@{ shape: rounded}
classDef Aqua stroke-width:1px, stroke-dasharray:none, stroke:#46EDC8, fill:#DEFFF8, color:#378E7A
style n5 stroke:#FF6D00
style n8 stroke:#FF6D00
```
All [Vanadium](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Vanadium) patches are applied by default. While the full build aims to be consistent with [Helium](https://github.com/imputnet/helium-linux), downstream implementation of Helium patches is currently paused to ensure strict compliance with upstream licensing requirements. The diagram reflects the architecture of initial ported releases and serves as the target framework if resolution is achieved.
## Building
All releases are built using [Actions](https://github.com/features/actions). Current releases can also be attested using [GitHub CLI](https://github.com/cli/cli).
```shell
gh attestation verify *.apk -R jqssun/android-helium-browser
```
This repository provides the build script to compile on the latest Ubuntu, and may also work with other Linux distributions.
To build these releases yourself via CI (e.g. GitHub Actions), fork this repository. Supply your `base64` encoded `keystore.jks` and `local.properties` (containing your `keyAlias`, `keyPassword` and `storePassword`) to [**Repository secrets**](https://github.com/jqssun/android-helium-browser/blob/main/.github/workflows/build.yml#L49-L50) under **Settings** > **Secrets and variables** > **Actions**. To generate a release, go to **Actions**, select **Build**, and select **Run workflow**. Under **Runner**, you can either use a GitHub-hosted runner by entering `ubuntu-latest`, or `self-hosted` for your own hardware.
## Credits
This project would not have been possible without the huge community contributions from [Vanadium](https://github.com/GrapheneOS/Vanadium), [Helium](https://github.com/imputnet/helium), as well as [ungoogled-chromium](https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium) and various other upstream projects. All credit goes to the original authors and contributors. This project started around the same time as [Helium Browser for Linux](https://github.com/imputnet/helium-linux) but it is not officially affiliated with the upstream [Helium](https://github.com/imputnet/helium) project.